Partnerships

Community and academic partnerships are essential for fostering strong and effective public health practice and policy development. We continue to build links with researchers, practitioners and policy decision makers across a variety of sectors to pursue opportunities for addressing public health issues.

We are proud to work collaboratively with other academic institutions, and non-governmental and governmental organizations locally, nationally and internationally. In addition, we are actively engaged in many associations and networks aimed at promoting health and well-being.

We are always interested in exploring new opportunities for working together to develop comprehensive solutions that address today’s public health issues.

The Wellness Fund advances comprehensive school health by funding projects that enhance health and wellness among school-aged children and youth and create sustainable healthy school communities.

The Wellness Fund enables school communities to infuse wellness into the culture of their schools by focusing on the provincial areas of healthy eating, active living, positive social environments and healthy relationships.

The Alberta Public Health Association is a provincial not-for-profit association that strengthens the impact of those who promote and protect the health of the public by speaking out for health, advocating on issues that affect health, and facilitating educational and networking opportunities.

In 2013, our School signed a Protocol Agreement with the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association. Recognizing that we have mutual interests and shared objectives, the agreement provides a framework for us to collaborate on research and programs, as well as professional development offerings. In addition, it opens the door for discussion about developing strong community leaders and Alberta communities.

The Association is the voice of accredited public health education, representing schools and programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. It aims to transform public health by strengthening and promoting the education, research, service, and practice activities of accredited schools and programs.

Through a 2010 memorandum of agreement with the Canadian College of Health Leaders (formerly the Canadian College of Health Service Executives), our School is able to leverage educational and professional opportunities for our students. The intent of this partnership is to develop experiences for those in leadership and management roles in the health services field.

If you are a student of our School you are eligible to request a student membership and begin working on your Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation that is offered through the Canadian College of Health Leaders. This designation will enhance your knowledge and career prospects, and is recognized as a national standard of professionalism in health management and leadership.

The Canadian Public Health Association is the national, independent, not-for-profit, voluntary association representing public health in Canada. Members believe in universal and equitable access to the basic conditions which are necessary to achieve health for all Canadians.

The Green & Gold Community Garden, established in 2009, is a joint project of the School of Public Health and the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences.

The garden occupies about two acres on the University of Alberta’s South Campus. It is run entirely by volunteers—all the labour and most of the equipment, seeds and plants are donated. A large variety of vegetables, including many heirloom varieties, herbs and flowers are grown. These are made available to the public during weekly market hours in exchange for a donation.

All funds raised from garden produce are sent to the Tubahumurize Association, in Rwanda. Tubahumurize is a not-for-profit organization that supports socially and economically marginalized women through counselling, vocational training, health education, and employment opportunities. The women who benefit from Tubahumurize include survivors of the Rwandan genocide; widows, orphans, women infected with HIV, and victims of domestic violence.

The Institute for Circumpolar Health Research (ICHR) is a northern-based health research centre based in Yellowknife with networks and collaborations extending across the Arctic regions of Canada, the Nordic countries, Russia, Alaska and Greenland.

In 2014, the School of Public Health signed an affiliation agreement with ICHR to provide core support to develop research capacity in the North, facilitate faculty and student outreach, and liaise with territorial governments and regional health authorities.

Collaborative research between Makerere University in Uganda and the School of Public Health began in 1997 through the Department of Public Health Sciences. This collaboration was expanded in early 2000 and now includes private, not-for-profit organizations, such as the Kabarole Research Centre.

These collaborative research initiatives focus on HIV/AIDS, family planning, reproductive health of adolescents and community-based health care development.

The practicum—a field placement project—provides a means for our master of public health (MPH) students to bridge theory and practice. These enriching and hands-on learning experiences can only be provided with the support of preceptors and their host organizations.

That's why we value the partnerships we have with a wide variety of organizations across Canada, in the United States and beyond. Our host organizations include departments at all levels of government—federal, provincial, regional and municipal—and non-governmental and funding organizations across sectors.

Visit our Practicum page to view a list of organizations that have recently hosted our students.